Rebuild!
For too long our communities have been exposed and unprotected from forces that have taken advantage of us, all because we have not made use of our power. From exercising the power of our vote, to engaging the collective power of the church, we have failed to use the full power that we have access to that would change things for the good of ourselves and our communities. Every day we see those, who benefit from our living like this, use their power to enact onerous laws, to over-police our communities and to take other actions that keep us living powerless. It's time to recognize our power and rebuild! This week, we examine how Nehemiah did just that, by following God, encouraging the people and taking action to rebuild Jerusalem's walls (Neh. 2:11-20). God bless!
I went to Jerusalem, and after staying there three days I set out during the night with a few others. I had not told anyone what my God had put in my heart to do for Jerusalem...(Neh. 2:11-15) Nehemiah began his time in Jerusalem, by examining the walls around the city. The walls were initially built to provide God’s people with protection and security against hostile forces that might try to come against them. During the invasion by Babylonian forces, the walls were destroyed. And although God’s people had returned from captivity and been in Jerusalem for nearly 100 years, they had not repaired the walls. Without those walls, they and the temple remained vulnerable and exposed to their enemies around them. Many began living among other people in the surrounding area for protection. Unfortunately, that dispersion led to assimilation and drifting away from God. They were living weakened and outside of the power of God. Nehemiah had heard about the disastrous state God’s people were living in. Now, he saw it with his own eyes and reconfirmed what God had put in his heart to do about it. Are you living weakened and outside the power of God? What has God put into your heart to rebuild your “wall”?
The officials did not know where I had gone or what I was doing, because as yet I had said nothing to the Jews or the priests or nobles or officials or any others who would be doing the work. Then I said to them, “You see the trouble we are in: Jerusalem lies in ruins, and its gates have been burned with fire. Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, and we will no longer be in disgrace. ” I also told them about the gracious hand of my God on me and what the king had said to me. They replied, “Let us start rebuilding.” So they began this good work. (Neh 2:16-18) Let us rebuild the wall and we will no longer be in disgrace. After confirming what God put on his heart, Nehemiah presented the people with the stark need and the mission to rebuild the wall. When we determine to rebuild the “wall” we decide that we will longer live outside the grace and power of God. The people agreed with Nehemiah and began the work of rebuilding the wall. When God shows you what He wants to rebuild, repair and restore in your life, determine to respond “yes, Lord!”
But when Sanballat the Horonite, Tobiah the Ammonite official and Geshem the Arab heard about it, they mocked and ridiculed us. “What is this you are doing?” they asked. “Are you rebelling against the king?” I answered them by saying, “The God of heaven will give us success. We his servants will start rebuilding, but as for you, you have no share in Jerusalem or any claim or historic right to it.” (Neh. 2:19-20) There are always those who will oppose the work of rebuilding and empowering people. They do so in order to maintain and enhance their own power. That’s exactly why Sanballat, Tobiah and Geshem attempted to derail the rebuilding work. But when antagonists come against what God is doing, we don't need to despair. Instead, we need to remember this... it is God who gives success! Turn your focus to Him in the midst of the enemy's opposition and He will give you courage and renewal for whatever He has called you to do.
Stacey Abrams is a modern day Nehemiah. She has rallied people in Georgia and around the nation to recognize and use their power at the ballot box. Stacey’s parents are ordained ministers who were trained at Emory. Stacey's plan for reinvigorating Georgia's voter population was divinely inspired by her study of her parents' seminary textbook on how to build up and grow a church. God seeks to inspire all of us through Nehemiah’s faith and work to know that... Whenever we engage Him and act in concert with His purpose, He gives us the power to rebuild!
Blessings,
Rev. Glenn
"There was an immediate answer to [Nehemiah’s] prayer; for the seed of Jacob never sought the God of Jacob in vain." ~ Matthew Henry
